A new factory is coming to Victorville, and that means 100 new jobs.
Several companies, including GE, Rubbermaid and Pratt & Whitney have already moved there.
"I got fired from my last job and I've been looking ever since. There's just no work up here," said Hesperia resident Juan Rodriguez.
That grim reality is slowly changing with the announcement from United Furniture Industries of North Carolina that it is bring a Simmons furniture factory to Victorville.
The company has signed a nine-year, $16 million lease at the Southern California Logistic Center to manufacture upholstered furniture.
The United Furniture projects coordinator said California beat out five other western states, mainly due to its location and workforce.
"Most of our major vendors that we buy product from raw materials and things have operations in Southern California," he said.
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Victorville's first term mayor, Ryan McEachron, said a public-private partnership got the ball rolling.
But a skilled workforce sitting on a 17 percent unemployment rate sealed the deal.
"It's a dent in that problem. We can't ever hope to turn this economy around without the creation of jobs," said McEachron.
One-hundred people will be hired next month, 400 in the next three years.
Word has already leaked out and job seekers are on the hunt.
"I'm an air force mechanic, but I can't get a job," said Victorville resident Dee Kirkham. "I've been unemployed for two years. So I figured this is my niche. I want to get there first."
United Furniture will hold a job fair for the first 100 positions on Oct. 15, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the San Bernardino County Department of Workforce Development office, located at 15555 Main St. #G4, in Hesperia.
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